Electric cut-out.



No. 685,549. Patented Oct. 29, 190i. A. J. WURTS.

ELECTRIC GUT-OUT. (A licntion filed Apr. 1'7, 1901.) (In Model.)

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GEORGE WVESTINGHOU SE, OF PITTSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA.

ELECTRIC CUT-OUT.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters resent No. 685,549, dated Cctober 29, 1901.

Application filed April 17, 1901. Serial No. 56,33 2. (No model.)

To atZZ whom it may concern.-

Beit known that LALEXANDER J AY WURTS, a citizen of the United States,residing at Pittsburg, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented new and useful Improvements in Electric Out-Outs, of which the following in a specification.

My invention relates to making and breaking devices for electric circuits, and particularly to devices of this character that are operated magnetically to break the circuit and maintain it broken While the actuating-magnet is energized and by gravity to close the circuit and hold it closed when the actuatingmagnet is deenergized.

My invention was primarily designed for use in connection with electric lamps of the type in which the light-emitting members or glowers are non-conductors when cold and are raised to conducting temperature by means of electric heaters; but it is not necessarily restricted to that specific use.

The chief objection to the use of electromagnetic cut-outs in lamps operated by alternating currents has been the noise produced by vibrations of the movable parts. The invention forming the subject-matter of the present application is intended to avoid the objections above noted and also to embody a structure the parts of which may be cheaply constructed and readily and conveniently assembled, and one which will not be liable to disarrangement or destruction in use.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a view, partially in side elevation, partially in section, and partially diagrammatic, of an electric lamp provided with a heater cut-out constructed in accordance with my invention.

Figs. 2 and 3 are views similar-to Fig. 1 but illustrating modifications.

Referring now particularly to Fig. 1, the glower 1, heater 2, and ballast resistance 3 may be of any approved construction and connected to the supply-conductors 4 and 5 in theusual manner. Thecut-outforinterrupting the heater-circuit when the glower becomes conductive comprises a suitable base 6 and two contact terminal-blocks 7 and 8, connected, respectively, to one terminal of the heater and to the supply conduetor 4 and hollowed out to form a cup-shaped cavity 9.

The ball 11 is made of magnetizable material and may also be provided with a coating of silver or other suitable metal that is substantially non-oxidizable and is not liable to weld or stick to the parts with which it comes into engagement. The magnet-coil12, thatis connected in the glower-cireuit in the usual manner, is supported upon the base 6 by means of a bracket 13 and is provided with a magnetizable core 14, that may project below the lower end of the coil and be provided with an approximately hemispherical recess 15 in its end.

The form of the parts may be varied from what is shown; but the construction indicated has been found satisfactory in practice and is therefore shown'as indicative of what may be found desirable.

It will be understood without further description that when the parts are in the positions indicated in the drawings, the heatercireuit is closed and the magnet is therefore deenergized. As soon as the glower becomes conductive the current passing therethrough and through the coil 12 will producea magnetic field that will instantly draw the ball 11 into the cavity 15, and thus interrupt the heater-circuit. The ball will be held in the cavity 15 so long as the magnet remains energized, and in view of the good magnetic cir cuit and the close contact between the ball and the cavity there will be little or no tendency to vibration and consequent noise.

In Fig. 2 the glower 1, heater 2, ballast 3, conductors at and 5, coil 12, core 14, and bracket 13 are shown as constructed and arranged substantially as are the corresponding parts illustrated in Fig. 1. As here indicated, the base-plate 6 is shown as formed integral with the terminal-blocks 7 and 8 and as provided on its bottom with a plate or strip 16. It will be understood, however, that the construction of base-plate and contact terminal-blocks here shown may be employed with the apparatus shown in Fig. 1 or that the corresponding parts shown in Fig. 1

may be employed in the combination here shown, this particular feature being susceptible of numerous variations without affecting the character or scope of the invention. The cavity 9, formed'in the blocks 7 and 8, is here shown as provided with a lining 10, the same as in Fig. 1, and the ball 11 may also be provided with a coating, as has been already described. As here shown, however, the ball 11 is connected to the plate or. strip 16 by means of a flexible cord 17 of such length that when the magnet 12 is energized the ball is prevented from being drawn into engagement with the core 14, its uppermost or circuit-breaking position being indicated by broken lines. This position may obviously be varied from what is shown, it being intended to indicate merely that a restraining device shall be here employed to prevent actual contact between the ball and the core 14, thus effectually guarding against any possible noise due to vibration of the ball under the action of alternating cu rrents.

In Fig. 3 the several parts, except as will be specifically described, are the same as those shown in Figs. 1 and 2, and since the same reference-numerals are employed the description heretofore given may be read in connection with this figure, thus making it unnecessary to repeat the same. In this form of the device the ball 11 is also restricted from movement into contact with the core 14 when the coil 12 is energized; but the restraining means comprises a rod or wire 18, the respective ends of which are attached to the ball 11 and to a ring 19, the latter being engaged by a second ring 20, that is attached to the plate or strip 16. Obviously this does not differ from what is shown in Fig. 2 as regards the function and result effected. Other forms of restraining devices for the ball 11 may be employed, if desired.

It will be seen that in each form of my invention as illustrated and described the movable member of the cut-out is substantially uncontrolled as regards its direction of movement, except by magnetism and gravity, and that consequently there are no mechanical connections the looseness of which will result in noise by reason of the vibrations set up by alternating currents.

I claim as my invention 1. A circuit making and breaking device comprising an electromagnet, stationary contact-terminals and a circuit makingand breaking member that is movable bodily, and without lateral restraint, by magnetism to opencircuit position and by gravity to circuit-closing position.

2. In a cut-out for electric circuits, the combination with an electromagnet, of stationary contact-terminals and a magnetizable member movable as a whole in one direction by magnetism and in the other direction by gravity and having no mechanical restraint in such movements.

3. An electromagnetic cut-out, comprising an electromagnet, stationary contact-terminals and a freely-movable ball of magnetic material for making and breaking the circuit between said terminals.

4. In an electromagnetic cut-out, the combination with an electromagnet, of stationary contact-terminals adjacent to each other and to said magnet and forming a cup-shaped recess or socket and a ball of magnetic material resting in said recess and serving to close the circuit when the magnet is denergized and being drawn out of the recess to open the circuit when the magnet is energized.

5. In an electromagnetic cut-out, the combination with an electromagnet, having a core provided with a cup-shaped recess in its lower end, of stationary contact-terminals, having a cup-shaped recess below the recess in the magnet-core, and a ball of magnetic material moved to and held in one recess by gravity and in the other by magnetism.

6. In an electromagnetic cut-out, the combination with an electromagnet, of stationary contact-terminals adjacent to each other and having a cup-shaped recess therein provided with a non-oxidizable lining and a ball of magnetic material provided with a non-oxidizable coating and resting in said recess to close the circuit when the magnet is deenergized.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name this 10th day of April, 1901.

ALEXANDER JAY \VURTS.

IVitnesses:

J AMES B. YOUNG, WESLEY G. CARR. 

